Sheffield Wednesday: Business as usual for Gray after takeover collapse

Owls boss Stuart Gray

Liam Hoden

Published:05:59Updated:10:22Friday 12 September 2014

Share this article

Owls head coach Stuart Gray has admitted he stopped considering the possibility of a takeover some time ago and concentrated on working with the players at his disposal.

Chairman Milan Mandaric ended Hafiz Mammadov’s bid to take over the club last week with the Azerbaijani businessman having provided no funds for his buyout three months after a deal was initially agreed.

With no extra funds made available – nor any significant cash boost ever looking close to arriving – Gray says he accepted a while ago that the current squad would be the tool-box from which he would have to work.

But he did admit to being disappointed at seeing the deal fall through.

“It was dragging on for so long that I just got my head around that this is the group of lads I’ve got to work with,” Gray said.

“I couldn’t affect that.

“I am disappointed for the chairman and disappointed for the club and supporters because we all thought it was going to happen and then allow us to bring in probably a higher quality of players.

“It’s not happened and I’ve just got to accept it and move on until told different.”

A consequence of the collapse is the end of Gray’s interest in French midfielder Florent Tardieu. Earlier in the summer, the Owls had reportedly agreed a deal with Istres over the signing of the 22-year-old.

He said: “I think Tardieu is off the radar now.

“If we’d have got the takeover going through we’d probably have him in the building so we’ve missed out there.”

After bringing in Hallam Hope and Royston Drenthe on loan in the last fortnight, Gray say no further business is imminent.

He is however, keeping a close eye on those players available in the loan market, particularly strikers.

He said: “Something could happen but at the moment I’m delighted with the squad I’ve got.

“If we can get the few injured players back, then I’ve got a fantastic group of lads who will give everything for the cause.

“I’ve got competition in every position but I could probably do with that bit more up front as well.”